Steering and controlling system for automobiles.



A. W. PATTISON. STEERING AND CONTROLLING SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPLICAHON FILED OCT. 13. l9l3.

1,154,653. PatentedSept. 28, 1915.

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Wiltmcooeo I A. W. PATTISON. STEERING AND CONTROLLING SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION men OCT. 13. 1913. 7 1,154,653. PatentedSept. 28, 1915.

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Witnesses 6%. W SWW 95 A Q m 13 I A. W. PATTISON. STEERING AND CONTROLLING SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLlCATlON FILED OCT. 13. 193. 1,154,653. PatentedSept. 28, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

(June/whorl Witnesses /0 6 @001; a. 1

ALBERT W. PATTISON, 013 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO GRINNELL ELECTRIC CAR CO., OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

STEERING AND CONTROLLING SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

App1ication filed October 13, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT W. PATTISON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steering and Controlling Systems for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a controlling and steering mechanism for motor vehicles which may be readily shifted to operate from either the front or rear seat and which can be shifted by the driver without the use of tools or special effort.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the interior of the car provided with a controlling system that embodies features of the invention in rear drive position. Fig. 2 is a view of the interior of the car with the controlling system shifted to the forward drive position; Fig. 3 is a view in rear elevation of the controlling mechanism; Fig. 4 is a view in end elevation of the controlling mechanism; and Figs. 5 and 6 are views in detail of the locking handle and plate.

Referring to the drawings a car body of,

the inclosed type has a back seat 1 and a forward seat 2, the latter being either shiftable or being permanently secured in the position indicated in Fig. 2. A base plate 3 is mounted on the vehicle floor near the side wall of the car. A pair ofparallel links 4 are pivoted to the base plate to swing in an upright plane and are coupled at their top by a fitting 5 in such manner that the lat ter is maintained in upright position throughout the arc of travel of the links. A locking plate 6 is attached to the side of the car or other convenient support adjacent the rear seat 1 and a front locking plate 7 is similarly supported in operative relation to the front seat 2.

A spindle S in the fitting 5 has a tongue 9 on its inner end which may be passed through the slot of either locking plate and moved into engagement therewith by asuitably disposed handle 10.

A steering shaft 11 is journaled in the base plate 3 and is provided with a rock Specification of Letters Patent.

' the car.

Patented Sept. 28, 1915.

Serial No. 794,822.

arm 12 adapted to be operatively connected in any suitable manner to the steering knuckles of the car. An intermediate shaft 13 operatively connects the shaft 11 through universal joints 1% with a spindle 15 journaled in the fitting 5 and adapted to be turned by a suitably arranged steering handle 16. The connections of the latter may permit it to be turned upright if desired.

A steering shaft 17 is journaled in the base 3 in parallel relation to the shaft 11 and is coupled to a rock arm 18 and other suitable connections with the motor controlling device of the vehicle. The intermediate shaft 19 with universal joint 20 connects the shaft 17 with a stem 21 that is journaled in the fitting 5 in parallel relation to the shaft 15 and may be turned by a suitable handle 22. The latter be hinged to turn at upright position if desired.

As a matter of convenience a cut out switch casing 23 may be carried by the fitting 5 with a flexible conductor 24; leading to the motor and forming a part of the circuit thereof. The casing'may, of course, have a switch lock, and other appurtenances may be provided if desired.

As a result of this construction a person may control the car from either front or back seat swinging the mechanism forward or back as desired. In either position the construction is rigidly supported so that it is as effective as the fixed type common in such vehicles. It avoids the use of two controlling seats and permits of the disposition of the seats so that the occupants may all face forward or toward the middle of Thus as indicated in Fig. 1 the seats may face each other or as in Fig. 2, thedrivers seat may be movably or permanently secured in proper relation to the front drive position.

Obviously, changes in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and I do not care to limit myself to any particular form or arrangement of parts.

IVhat I claim is 1. In a motor vehicle having a front seat and a back seat, controlling and steering means permanently attached to the vehicle and adapted to be swung in a plane longitudinally of the car, and locking means for securing them in either forward or back position, the controlling and steering means beunember in the mechanism for engaging ing operable from either seat for manipulating the vehicle in either forward or backward direction.

2. In a motor vehicle having a front seat and a back seat, steering and controlling means permanently connected to the vehi cle and adapted to be shifted into operative relation to either seat whereby the vehicle may be operated in either direction fromeither seat, and locking means for securing the controlling and steering means in either position.

3. a motor vehicle, a front seat and a back seat, locking plates each fixed to the vehicle adjacent a seat, a single controlling and steering mechanism permanently connected to the vehicle and adapted to be shift ed into operative relation to either seat, and to afiord'control of the vehicle in direct or reverse drive from either seat, anda locking either locking plate and holding the mechanism in operative relation to the companion seat.

4 Ina motor, vehicle having a front and rear seat, a single steering and controlling mechanism consisting of a base plate secured to the vehicle intermediate the seats, a fitting,link s that are adapted to couple the fit ting and base, and tosWing in an are, means for locking the fitting adjacent either seat, and controlling and steering levers carried by the fitting and articulated by flexible connections With controlling and steering shafts.

5. In a motor vehicle having a front seat and a back seat, a base supported on theve hicle intermediate the seats, a pair of parallel. links pivoted to the base to swing, in any upright plane, a fitting pivotally secured to the upper end of the links, a steering handle,

a rockarm, flexible connections extending from the steering handle through the fitting to the rock arm, a controlling handle, a C011- trolling rock arm, flexible connections extending from the handle through the fitting to the controlling rock arm, and means for securing the fitting adjacent either seat. I

6. Ina motor vehicle, a base, a. fitting, links artlculating the fitting and base to swing in parallel relation, means for locking the fitting 1n either one oftWo positions, and

t erin and e r aea ar e by theffitting and provided ivith flexible connections for controlling-the car from either bQ- ition of; the fitting.

7. In a motor vehicle having. a front-seat erise a th s e? b ined r t m ce ase b ilire n ts sw et e Washington Q. i i

of membersjournaled in parallel relation he n, Par l e nks rt cul ting e fitns nd ase and a teinin t ee a P,- erative relation, intermediate" shafts coupling the respective members of the fitting and base through universal joint connedtions, handles for manually, turning the fitme memb r and m ans er la kin h tt n in front r a k iw tie 1 .1 e el hicle.

9- In a motor ve c e, ase pa r f parallel links pivoted to the base, a fitting pivoted. tovthe links, a locking member in the fitting, locking plates each adjacent the eat adapted to be engaged by the leck ing, m er a P ir Of P r l otatab emem er a p rv f p r l l tatab e mem ers nt e fitting, univ sal h nt nd sha t Can ec i ns b t e n. t e amr'anien member at the base and fitting for securing them to r th nd han es 1 dapt t9 turn a member of; the fitting, f

10. In a motor vehiele,a base, a f P a el nk p te v to. th as a fittin ivoted to the links a lockin member'in P r .a z: v,

the fitting, locking plates each adj aeentthe seat adapted to be engaged by the lockin V member, apair of'parallel; rotatable members. at t ba e a ra rr-ma e iotalfi le members in the fitting, universal andv shaft connections between. the companion members atthe base and. fitting for securingv them to turntogether, handleseachadapted to turn a member of theifitting, controllin Switch case e ed by. h fitt naaad. the ble con to the motor circuit.

In testimony whereof atfixunysignature in presence of two Witnesses,

Witnesses z' Or'ro STANLEY, ANNA Donn.

atents.

t i t diae it m, h eas n 

